Flame Prompts UN Warning on Cyberwar Risk

Flame Prompts UN Warning on Cyberwar Risk

The UN has urged countries to seek a “peaceful resolution” in cyberspace to avoid the threat of global cyberwar. The comments by the head of the UN’s telecommunications agency came a week after Flame, one of the most complex cyber-attacks to date, was uncovered. Dr Hamadoun Toure told the BBC that he did not suspect the US of being behind the attack. He added that developing countries were being helped to defend themselves more adequately against threats.

Giving his first public interview about the attack, Dr Toure said the UN’s International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which co-ordinates the sharing of communication infrastructure across the world, had been following the threat since May. “There is a risk of cyberwar – but it’s not necessary. That’s what we’re trying to do: prevent,” he said. “We’re saying the best way to win a war is to avoid it in the first place.”